Celebrity Unveils Edge-Class Ships

Celebrity Cruises has released its first look at what is it calling the transformational Celebrity Edge, with large staterooms, the ship-climbing Magic Carpet platform and stunning suites that set a new standard for ship design. The new Edge Stateroom with Infinite Veranda turns guest quarters into a seamless space, according to Celebrity, from the room’s door all the way to the water’s edge. The simple touch of a button gives guests open-air access to the sea, bringing the outside in and the inside out. The design adds 23% more square footage and 10% larger bathrooms than Celebrity’s Solstice Class. There is also the The Retreat, featuring a private pool on The Retreat Sundeck. Also part of this special space is The Retreat Lounge, which brings heightened levels of style and sophistication to Celebrity Edge and around-the-clock personal butler service. Celebrity Edge’s inaugural sailing is December 16, 2018. Reservations have opened just this week for her inaugural season—Call us to secure your spot on this one-of-a-kind ship. Space is selling out fast.Check out great pictures here: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/16557-celebrity-unveils-edge-class-ships.html

Port Everglades And RCL Sign MOU That Includes Customized Terminal For Celebrity Edge

The MOU moves toward a long-term agreement with RCL through September 2026. The MOU provides the framework for a new long-term agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. that includes customized renovations of Cruise Terminal 25. Those are targeted for completion by Oct. 31, 2018, ahead of the arrival of Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Edge. The MOU will allow negotiations to move forward toward a final agreement that must be approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. RCL’s current agreement expires on Dec. 31. The new agreement will be effective on Jan. 1, and expire on Sept. 30, 2026, with options to extend the agreement for four years, followed by another five years.

Free Wi-Fi On Cruise Ships for All?

This was a discussion of the Cruise Connectivity Panel at SeaTrade 2017 but Free Wi-Fi for all cruise passengers is still a long way off, due to costs and technology, the experts said. Although hotels have increasingly made free Wi-Fi to guests, the upfront costs for cruise lines to install the same technology is significantly higher. Panelist Tennyson LaJeunesse, owner of Redcell Technologies, urged lines to include passengers’ onboard internet experience into customer feedback. LaJeunesse also questioned whether the lines were catering for passenger needs: “Are we designing for capacity properly? The pool areas are a huge problem because the huge number of mobile devices are saturating the limited capacity.” He also said that’s already happening and that passenger feedback had been the main driver for the improvements in onboard connectivity: “It’s very important, and we to hear from our guests. A lot of that feedback led to our Wi-Fi at Sea Program, and we have had a phenomenal guest experience via that program.”

Skytrax Winners Unveiled At Passenger Terminal Expo 2017

The winners of the 2017 Skytrax World Airport Awards have been announced at Passenger Terminal Expo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with Singapore Changi Airport claiming top spot for the fifth consecutive year. With more than 5,000 visitors attending the first day alone, including CEOs, architects, airport and airline executives, suppliers and key decision makers from across the world, Passenger Terminal Expo provided the perfect setting for the prestigious award announcements. he world’s top 10 airports were announced as:

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore,

Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), Japan,

Incheon International Airport, South Korea,

Munich Airport, Germany,

Hong Kong International Airport, China,

Hamad International Airport, Doha,

Chubu Centrair Nagoya, Japan,

Zurich Airport, Switzerland,

London Heathrow Airport, England,

Frankfurt Airport, Germany.

This year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards were based on the results of nearly 14 million questionnaires completed by 105 different nationalities of airline customers. The survey was carried out from July 2016 to February 2017, covering 555 airports worldwide and evaluating passenger feedback for areas such as check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security, immigration and departure.

Which airline offers the most legroom for your money?

The airlines that offer the most value-for-money in terms of legroom have been revealed recently in research. Research reviewed the legroom on offer on the most popular airlines departing from the UK for long haul destinations in 2016, looking at the cost per cm in economy, as well as the price paid for extra leg room. On long-haul flights, Turkish Airlines was said to offer the best value legroom overall in economy, per cm. Passengers with Turkish Airlines only have to pay £4.97 per cm of space. Also commendable were Air India, whose legroom per cm costs £5.73; Qatar Airways, which costs £6.94 per cm; Delta Air Lines, which costs £7.06 per cm and Etihad Airways, which costs £7.26 per cm. Which airlines have the most legroom in long-haul economy? Legroom is in inches: Air Canada 30-35, Air China 31-33, Air France 31-34, British Airways 30-31, Cathy Pacific 32, China Southern 29-33, Delta Air Lines 31-35, Emirates 32-34, Etihad Airways 31-33, Jet Airways 32, KLM 31-35, Lufthansa 31-32

Dual Citizens of USA/Canada Make Note

A new Canadian Law affects dual citizens. If you are a dual citizen you must enter Canada with a Canadian Passport. We suggest you use the passport of the country you are now living in for both ways— It will make your life easier.

Lufthansa And Pilots’ Union Reach A Deal

Following constructive talks this week, Lufthansa and the pilot’s union Vereinigung Cockpit reached an agreement regarding all previously unresolved collective bargaining matters. In a declaration of intent, the negotiating partners agreed on forward-thinking provisions for transitional payments, pension plans, the framework agreement on employment conditions and the collective wage agreement for the pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings. Likewise, Lufthansa will not be pursuing a previously announced plan to staff 40 newly acquired aircraft outside the group-wide collective bargaining agreement. In return for the cost-reducing elements of the agreement, 325 aircraft will be crewed in the current KTV flight operations in stages by 2022. This will make it possible for Lufthansa to hire trainee pilots again in the coming years and create career prospects for pilots with a large number of positions for prospective captains. A reciprocal agreement to refrain from industrial action for the duration of the talks has already been reached, and is set to be formalized in a collective bargaining agreement that will last until 2022.

Expedia Customers From Toronto Denied Entry To St. Lucia Due To Passport

A Toronto couple who paid more than $5,000 for a trip to St. Lucia were denied entry because one of their passports was less than three months from expiring. Airline representatives informed them that they were inadmissible to St. Lucia because their passports did not have a minimum validity of six months, an entry requirement. The couple said they didn’t know of the requirement; they claimed that Expedia, a licensed travel agent in Ontario, failed to inform them accordingly. “At no point was there a pop-up or notice that your passport should be valid for six months,” he said. Ontario’s Travel Industry Act stipulates that travel agents are obligated to clearly inform consumers about the need to have appropriate travel documents. Expedia’s website claims that when travel is finalized, a message appears advising the customer(s) about the need to have a passport valid for at least six months. Expedia offered to reimburse the couple half the value of the hotel portion of the trip, about $1,712. Willamette Intl Travel advises clients to check their passports well before departure. Many countries will not permit entry unless your passport expires after at least 6 months from your return date.